“The American people expect us to work together to create jobs, grow the economy, and reduce the deficit – not take the government to the brink of a shutdown by including partisan, ideological policy riders in appropriations bills,” said Whip Hoyer. “That’s why Democrats are sending a letter to Republicans asking them to live up to their pledge to not use must-pass legislation to advance a partisan agenda. We note that not all policy riders are objectionable, and ask that controversial policy riders be removed from these bills. I hope Republicans will work with us on this issue, and focus on getting Americans back to work.”

Below is the text of the letter and the full list of Democrats signing the letter:

Dear Mr. Speaker:

We write with deep concern about the inclusion of policy riders in FY2012 appropriations legislation. As you know, there is longstanding precedent not to use appropriations bills to enact major changes in national policy, and the bills being reported from Appropriations subcommittees this year violate that precedent.

While not all policy riders are objectionable, many of those included this year are not only controversial but blatantly partisan. Included riders would block the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, roll back important clean air and clean water protections, and place new restrictions on women’s access to a full range of medical and health services, among others. These appropriations bills appear to any knowledgeable observer as an attempt to push through both chambers an extreme, partisan agenda outside the regular order you so strongly advocated in the Pledge to America, which declares an end to “the practice of packaging unpopular bills with ‘must-pass’ legislation to circumvent the will of the American people.”

As appropriators continue working to meet funding thresholds in the Budget Control Act, it is important that Republicans not risk a government shutdown by playing politics with appropriations bills. Democrats oppose the inclusion of controversial policy riders, which are unlikely to pass the Senate, and we urge you to see that they are removed. The American people expect Congress to take the necessary steps to create jobs for the middle class, spur the growth of our economy, and lower our deficits, and it is our hope that Republicans will work with Democrats on a bipartisan path forward that will meet these expectations as well as the obligations set forth in the Budget Control Act.